The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-31
THE BLUE AND THE GRAY.
Thrilling Scene in the New York Prohibition
Convention.

Convention.
Philadelphia Evening Telegraph.
In the Syracuse, n. Y, Prohibition conven-
ton Henry Clay Bascom, the chairman, said:
at has been sometimes stated that the old
soldiers do not belong to the Prohibition fanat-
les. l wish. therefore, you would hear Mr.
Bartram for moment on the point"
". H. H Bartram, the delegate referred to,
is veteran Union soldier living In Buffalo.
For several yeara ne has been leading speaker
of the Prohibition party in western New York
He recently organized an association of Union
and confederate soldiers who now belong to
the Prohi bition party and was elected chief of
the organization. He climbed upon the plat
form and said
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen: At meet
ing of the blues and grays. this morning, 1t was
decided to nail the lie which has been going the
rounds in Syracuse that there is not veteran
of the war in this convention To test this
question thoroughly, L would like to have all
the old soldiers of the late war who are member
of this convention rise and stand till they can
be counted"
there in the throng arose sturdy-looking men,
till over four were standing. A tempest
of cheers swept over the convention; the band
opportunely began playing 'Marching through
Georgia." the delegates caught up the song and
sang it Justify. Meanwhile the veterans
had been pushed upon chairs, and were stand
ing conspicuously, but with modest air, before
the convention
There are 1O2 war veterans" shouted the sec
rotary he ceased counting them.
Three cheers for the blue" shouted a dele
gate. and they were given with will.
''Mr Chairman" said Mr.. Bartram. "there
were two confederate soldiers at our meeting
this morning The convention received the
news with deafenng applause.
Three cheers for the gray" shouted
thusiastic delegate, and these cheers were given
as heartily as for the Union soldiers, although
some of the older delegates, after being swept
off their feet for the momens by the demand for
the cheers, regained their mental balance
as they were given and looked at one anoth
curously. The two confederate soldiers
made to stand upon chairs, and were again
choered.
Let the confederates take the platform"
said delegate. There request that this
should be done, and accordingly the confederate
veterans marched up TO the platform and soon
appeared standing by the chairmans side. They
both stout soldierly-looking men, and
came forward. Their names were j. A. Kelvin
and r. d. Dean Mr. Kelvin is construction
agent of the Baltimore g. Ohio railroad. and has
Office at No. 415 Broadway. but he lives in
Haverstraw Mr. Dean is resident of Glenn
Falls, Warren county. Mr.. Kelvin said
Gentlemen, comrades in the cause of Pro-
hibition: have been yelling for Prohibition SO
much that have almost forgotten the rebel
yell Let me say that it is the old confederate
soldiers who leading the Prohi btlon army
in the South to-day. We did have a struggle,
that's fact but rebels stuck to the text
and 1t is to that fact that you owe the abolition
of slavery. We fought on; there was COM
promise like that which the old parties would
like to make with the Prohibitionists nowadays.
and the bayonet finally struck off the shackles
of the slave Well, we were we'll thrashed, and
like a boy who has been we'll whipped we
don't intend to try it again. We have Joined
the Prohibition army, whose battle line is from
and free men from the shackles of drunken
ness"